Review: The Incredibly Busy Mind of Bowen Bartholomew Crisp by Paul Russell

 Today's review is a nod to all those kids out there, who don't think quite like everyone else.

THE INCREDIBLY BUSY MIND OF BOWEN BARTHOLOMEW CRISP

by Paul Russell

Illustrated by Nicky Johnston

EK Books

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

Most children would say that the ocean is blue, but when Bowen looks at it he sees white where the waves crash, deep black on the ocean floor, and green when there’s a storm. He wonders whether fireflies are hot, and notices how the brushstrokes of a painting tell a story too. Bowen sees the world differently to other children and struggles to fit in. How will he find his place in the world?

The Incredibly Busy Mind of Bowen Bartholomew Crisp follows the life of Bowen through school and beyond. At every stage, he finds that he doesn’t fit in with his peers, but this eventually becomes his greatest strength. Through thinking differently, he is able to solve problems that no one else could. After all, just because something can’t be mended the same as it was, why can’t it be mended differently?

A very personal story, Bowen’s tale is sensitively written and full of colourful, lively illustrations. It aims to offer hope to children who haven’t yet found their place in life by showing them that being ‘normal’ might just be overrated, and that to find success in life we should be valuing our differences.

Children, carers, teachers and psychologists alike will find inspiration in this tale of embracing diversity and engaging our full potential. It is a vital reminder that the strength and uniqueness of every child should be encouraged to help them find their place in the world and flourish!

You can purchase it on Exisle     Here

MY TIDBITS

No two people are the same or see the world in the same way. But then, there are those kids, who realize that they don't seem to think like anyone else. Bowen Bartholomew Crisp is one of these kids. In these pages, the reader follows him from his first days in school all the way until the end of his teenage years. And maybe, he'll have his own spot in life by the end, after all.

The illustrations are fun to glance through and offer a wholesome warmth and encouragement. Not only do they add to the tale and demonstrate the situations well, but the details will keep readers coming back again and again to discover something new.

This isn't a book for the youngest. There is more text and the thoughts are also a bit more advanced, making this a read more for six and up. It does work well as a read-aloud for younger ones, but be prepared to answer some questions because Bowen Bartholomew covers a lot of ground in all sorts of topics and ideas. It's fun to zip around in his head with him, and more than a couple kids will be able to identify with him.

While the message in this one is clear, it's not preachy, either. There is even a little humor built in to keep things light, and the family love is also present, making it a positive read in every way.

And here they are...

Paul Russell is a primary teacher, artist, playwright and children’s author of Grandma Forgets and My Storee, among others, with Grandma Forgets making the CBCA list of notable picture books in 2018. Having been in classrooms for over 30 years, it really isn’t surprising that all of his heroes are teachers. He is passionate about children’s literacy and building young appetites for the written word.

 

Nicky Johnston is an educator, speaker, and author/illustrator of children’s books. She is passionate about promoting emotional resilience in children and raising awareness of mental health issues. As well as teaching, she works from home writing and illustrating and has contributed to 16 books including The Fix-It Man and Saying Goodbye to Barkley.

 

Review: Upside-Down Friday by Lana Spasevski

The title of today's review caught my attention. Add that cute, little monkey on the front, and there was no way I couldn't take a peek to see what this book holds. Let's see if this monkey is as fun as I'm thinking he'll probably be! 

UPSIDE-DOWN FRIDAY

by Lana Spasevski

Illustrated by Nicky Johnston

EK Books

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

Hugo the monkey doesn’t like Upside-Down Fridays. The day is the wrong way round; lunchtime is at morning teatime, and all his classmates’ smiles look like frowns. How will Hugo learn to tame the butterflies in his tummy and find the fun to be had in change?

Upside-Down Friday tells the story of the day Hugo embraces the unexpected. Walking to school, anxious thoughts swirl in his head. When he arrives, the day and his routine are as upside-down as he had feared. However, Maddie the giraffe knows how to help, and reassures Hugo that things won’t always be this scary. With this small gesture of friendship and understanding, Hugo begins to feel braver, reflecting how making new friendships, helping others, and accepting change can help reduce childhood anxiety and build resilience.

With its universal animal-kingdom setting, the story has likable characters who will resonate with all pre-schoolers and lower primary-aged school children who feel nervous about change. The emotive language and unique ‘upside-down’ illustrations make Upside-Down Friday relatable, immersive and accessible; an excellent resource for opening the conversation about anxiety and teaching strategies to cope with it.

Young children’s lives are full of big, scary changes like going to school and making new friends. Help them to build emotional resilience, and find the fun in days that don’t go to plan!

GOODREADS   /   B&N    /   BOOK DEPOSITORY   /   AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Hugo hates Fridays because they're upside-down. There's lunch for breakfast and all sorts of things, which just don't fit into the usual routine. But when he gets to school, a surprise awaits.

The illustrations in this one are lovely. They carry a gentler hue of colors, which have a calming effect even though scenes themselves are definitely not calm. The animals are a joy to see and easy to pick out. It's fun to flip through these and watch the monkey deal with strange, upside-down things.

This isn't a read for the youngest listeners but is great for ages 4 and up. It does make a good read-aloud and opens up for discussions concerning change, how to deal with it, and even meeting new friends. The tale flows smoothly and it's easy to feel Hugo's frustrations and hesitation with the odd situations. Plus, the surprise does put a smile on the face as the negative feelings change into positive ones. 

The story itself starts with a familiar scene of not necessarily wanting to get out of bed to go to school...something most kids will be able to identify with at one point or another. When Hugo goes to school, it's obvious that things are a little over-the-top and a bit of humor slides in. We did find the story a tiny bit confusing (as to what was happening and why this even was the way it was), but the message of someone reaching out to give a ray of happiness and it spreading came across nicely. It does show that there is something positive in odd situations, and they might be better than one expects. Plus, Hugo is super cute, and already makes this a lovely read.